Last Modified: Monday, January 28, 2013 at 1:31 p.m.

Michael Thomas Christner, 33, is accused of sending pornographic images to a boy, 15, and enticing him into having sex. (Photo provided by Sarasota County Sheriff's Office)

Authorities say Michael Thomas Christner, 33, of the 2300 block of Temple Street, met the boy online in late December and they exchanged text over the next couple of weeks. The boy said he made it clear to Christner that he is 15 years old. Despite that, Christner sent the boy explicit sexual material over the Internet, authorities said.

One day in early January the boy snuck out of his house and met Christner, who took him to an unknown location in Bradenton and the two had sex, the boy later told authorities.

In mid-January the boy contacted authorities. During an interview the boy picked Christner out of a photo lineup. Authorities interviewed Christner and said they found sexually explicit images on his phone, as well as sexually explicit text messages to the boy.

Christner was arrested and charged with one count of using a computer to entice a child to engage in sexual activity, one count of traveling to meet a minor to engage in sexual activity and 13 counts of the transmission of material harmful to minors.

<p><em>SARASOTA</em> - A Sarasota man was arrested today on charges that he sent pornographic images to a 15-year-old boy, then enticed the boy to have sex with him.</p><p>Authorities say Michael Thomas Christner, 33, of the 2300 block of Temple Street, met the boy online in late December and they exchanged text over the next couple of weeks. The boy said he made it clear to Christner that he is 15 years old. Despite that, Christner sent the boy explicit sexual material over the Internet, authorities said.</p><p>One day in early January the boy snuck out of his house and met Christner, who took him to an unknown location in Bradenton and the two had sex, the boy later told authorities.</p><p>In mid-January the boy contacted authorities. During an interview the boy picked Christner out of a photo lineup. Authorities interviewed Christner and said they found sexually explicit images on his phone, as well as sexually explicit text messages to the boy.</p><p>Christner was arrested and charged with one count of using a computer to entice a child to engage in sexual activity, one count of traveling to meet a minor to engage in sexual activity and 13 counts of the transmission of material harmful to minors.</p>